Bald cypress trees are a common sight in the wetlands of Louisiana.
Covering 10,700 square miles, the wetlands of southern Louisiana extend 30 miles inland along the Mississippi River. Comprising 12 percent of the American wetlands, it is a vast and diverse ecosystem full of numerous plant and animal species. Despite aggressive conservation efforts, much of the wildlife once common in the region is now under threat from climate-related habitat loss and man-made disasters, according to the Nature Conservancy.
Mammals
A great diversity of mammals are found in the vast wilderness of the Louisiana wetlands.
The eastern cougar (Felis concolor) is the largest wildcat in the United States, measuring 7 feet long and weighing up to 150 pounds. They are tawny-colored with a pale belly and feature the largest hind legs of any cat species.
The nutria (Myocastor coypus) is a common prey animal of the cougar. It is a large, semiaquatic rodent found throughout the Louisiana wetlands, although it is not a native species.
The Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) is a threatened species in the southern wetlands. As a subspecies of the American black bear, it is physically similar to other populations, with black or cinnamon-colored fur, and weighs between 90 and 500 pounds, depending on the sex and age of the specimen. It is an omnivorous species relying on plant matter to provide 80 percent of its diet.
Birds
Bird life in the wetlands includes both aquatic and terrestrial species.
The great egret (Casmerodius albus), known for its white plumage, yellow beak and spindly black legs, is a common sight in southern Louisiana. A wading bird, the great egret is found in shallow water, where it hunts frogs, small fish and reptiles.
Barred owls (Strix varia) are nocturnal predatory birds with a range that extends into the wetlands of Louisiana. Few animals hunt barred owls, with the exception of the great horned owl and humans. Elusive and shy, they are seldom seen, but their distinctive call is often heard.
Brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), the state bird of Louisiana, dwell in the wetlands of the Gulf coast. It is the smallest species of pelican, weighing only 11 pounds. Listed as an endangered species in Louisiana, the brown pelican suffered a great loss in numbers due to widespread DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) use in the 20th century.
Reptiles
The best-known reptile in the Louisiana wetlands is the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Sometimes referred to as a living fossil, the alligator evolved approximately 200 million years ago. It is a keystone predator of the bayou environment, meaning it has a greater impact in its niche than other predators in the same environment.
Snakes are found throughout the wetlands, hunting small rodents and birds. The western cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma) is an aquatic, heavy-boded snake with hemotoxic venom, meaning that it breaks down blood and tissue cells, causing hemorrhaging. Thriving in the warm, moist environment of the wetlands, the western cottonmouth reproduces rapidly and is among the most common reptile species in southern Louisiana.
Trees
Synonymous with the wetlands of Louisiana is the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum). Seen emerging from water, bald cypress trees thrive in alluvial soil that experiences periodic flooding. Growing to 100 feet in height on average, they are the largest tree species in the wetlands.
Known for its swollen, tapering trunk, water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) is another common tree species in the southern Lousiana wetlands. It was once an important lumber species, but mature trees are now scarce, and it is infrequently harvested.
Dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) is a small understory tree found in the wetlands. Typically reaching 3 feet in height, it is one of the few cold-hardy palm species and is often used in landscaping throughout the region.
Flowering Plants
A wide variety of flowering plants are found in the Louisiana wetlands, but by far the most common is Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides). Sometimes mistaken for lichen, Spanish moss is not related to moss at all but is a species of bromeliad. It is known for its large beards of slender, matted leaves, but it also bears understated white flowers.
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and square-stemmed monkey flower (Mimulus ringens) share similar soil requirements and are often found growing together in the wetlands. Both are herbaceous perennials that thrive in wet soil and attract many insect pollinators during their summer bloom.
Tags: Louisiana wetlands, southern Louisiana, species southern, wetlands Louisiana, bald cypress, black bear